Muhoroni: Over 1,500 youths gathered at Nyang'oma Chief's Camp in Muhoroni Sub-County for the NYOTA verification process, an initiative under the National Youth Opportunities Towards Advancement (NYOTA) project aimed at supporting marginalized groups. The government has launched this series of initiatives to assist youths, women, and Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) in improving their lives through entrepreneurship and skill development.
According to Kenya News Agency, Principal Secretary for the State Department of Children Services, Carren Ageng'o, emphasized that the NYOTA business support component is designed to expand employment opportunities. This will be achieved by providing capital grants to help young people either start or expand their businesses. During her address at the verification exercise, Ageng'o highlighted the diverse business ideas she encountered, ranging from bakery ventures to aquaculture and farming enterprises.
At the ward level, 70 beneficiaries will each receive a grant of Sh50,000 to support their business projects. The selected individuals will also undergo entrepreneurship and financial literacy training in preparation for the disbursement of funds, scheduled for early November. Ageng'o urged the youth to wisely utilize the grant to either start or grow their businesses and potentially create jobs for others, reinforcing a youth-driven economy.
Ageng'o also noted that the government would implement monitoring and evaluation processes to ensure the grants are used as intended. Beyond business grants, the NYOTA project includes an apprenticeship and employment component, aiming to link skilled youth with master craftsmen and employers through the On-the-Job Experience (OJE) programme. This initiative targets individuals who have completed Form Four but lack formal certification, offering them a six-month attachment to professionals, with government support of Sh6,000 per month during training and certification.
The OJE programme also aims to prepare participants for both local and international job markets, with partnerships established with international organizations to secure employment opportunities abroad. Collins Owino, an official from NYOTA, mentioned that the National Employment Authority (NEA) would facilitate labor mobility for beneficiaries aspiring to work overseas in countries such as Germany, Saudi Arabia, and Lebanon.
Owino also highlighted the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) programme by the National Industrial Training Authority (NITA), which assesses and certifies workers' skills in fields like construction, plumbing, and beauty services, providing them with formal recognition. The youth who attended the Muhoroni verification exercise expressed enthusiasm about joining the NYOTA programme and availing of its business support funding.